Blessing in odd way
ive been ill for sometime first Lupus, spinal stenosis,chronic pain syndrome, then about two years ago I developed uncontrolled hypertension. Then around July 2016 I had sinus uncontrolled tachycardia was hospitalized treated just one pill every morning. Things seem to get more and more complicated my bp would range in the single digits, I had to check my blood pressure before I could even take my heart medication. Then Sept. 17th I went off the wall, chest pains, trouble concentrating, pain in my neck and right arm. To make it even stranger I was in the doctor's office whom I had just changed to. I collapsed into the floor. The nerve of him his nurse came out started cpr he came to the door then told them to call an ambulance and went back to work! My oldest son was there and so mad. This is where the blessing began of sorts. My cardiologist arrived and a hospital physician was there. My blood pressure was all over the place along w my heart rate. While doing labs he noticed that during my earlier admission my stem& cortisol levels were low. BUT my old doctor had not followed up, even mentioned it. Dr. Craven ran a 24 hour cortisol and stem test whiched equaled adrenal insufficiency/Addison disease. For almost a year my old physician (if you can call him that) allowed me to be misdiagnosed, suffer, appeared to be going crazy, was called anorexia nervosa, personality disorder even tried Munchausen's disease while he had the answer all the time. When he was confronted by my brothers he said, "she had so many complaints I did not think the results were real or important, didn't seem important to play into her ill self" He was blessed my brothers are Christian gentlemen, and several other Deacons were there. He was brought up on charges with the SC Medical Board. Where we add additional lab reports that high or low and he had never followed through any. We even found our that when I fall and hurt my ankle he assured me it wasn't broken, well it was, he was notified 24 hours after seeing me. When the X-ray was read by a professional he found a crack. When did he contact us?Never. I am sorry I didn't realize how angry I still am. He took my life a played with it, now I know it wouldn't have made a difference in having it or not, I'll always have it; but the torture he put me through, perhaps my heart condition would not be as bad as it is now. He had me question myself defending myself, Anorexia nervosa wrong a symptom of adrenal insufficiency, personality disorders, wrong another symptom I was in a "fog" depressed some, fatigue was unreal no wonder I was anxious. Munchausen's disease, my endrconlogist just laughed, she said "I didn't know you were a surgeon, door picker and MRI/ SCAN changer". There is not one thing in your history to even validate possible self torture. Even you can't change lab results, damage your spine and two cages and live through it, or alter heart monitors, your smart but not that smart". Now we are still in crisis mode, I'm not controlled, and I depend on hydrocortisone daily to live, carry an injection with me, in this little red bad with extra meds. Snacks etc.. I wear a bracelet, have an emergency alert sign on the door, in the car even around my seat belt and on my phone. I've crashed five times and the first time the doctor didn't even know what to do! The nurse said,"sorry we don't get your kind in here very often" Now I wonder who to be more mad at, the doctor that almost killed me with his hiding of lab results or the emergency room staff that knows nothing and on last crash gave me a staff infection! But I can't change the past, replace what I may have been able to do w my kids if I had been treated from the gate. I have to grab this by the neck, learn everything I can and fight one more time. Things are getting some better, I've played in the garden some, gone to the park w my husband & son. Even vacuumed twice. I've been to church more knowing that I have to rest the day before and probably two days after. Even my kids have noticed I have more energy. It's just focusing the day around the treatment plan, wake up @6 eat take hydrocortisone, heart meds. Go back to sleep get back up about 9:30 little snack then meds again at 11am then between 4-5 more meds, nap and snack then bedtime meds at 8pm. That's the day if all goes well. I've been in crash mode for two days now, I'm not very good at removing myself from stressful situations and people. So that will add more down time. Things will get better, it's a matter of faith and trust; sometimes it's hour to hour faith but His got me. That's the one thing I'm completely sure of. Sorry but I feel so much better laying all out, sorry it was so long. Hoopoe
Replies
Hi Hoopoe - I'm so glad to be your friend. The mistreatment you experienced from that doctor just saddens and angers me too. I'm so glad charges were filed. While it doesn't turn back the clock, at least it may make a difference eventually. I had one that laughed off my research and suggestion that I had MS symptoms... he told me "oh, you've not got MS... now my brother-in-law has ALS-now THAT'S serious." Naturally, the symptoms and my urologist encouraged me to see a neurologist again. The first one I'd seen just laughed off what he called a "mild herniation" in one of my disks and told me this happens when we get old (I was 39) and I should join a gym.
Doesn't it make your blood about boil when we are shrugged off, misdiagnosed and downright mistreated? You're right though. We need to concentrate on focusing on what it is we need, and not getting caught up in the negativity around us. Lord knows, there's enough of it. I hope you will feel a bit better everyday now that you've gotten away from that awful practitioner.
Amen, yes I got a call today from insurance saying they were going to reach out to him? Like his going to admit to anything. There is tones of proof that people with Addison or adrenal insufficiency are misdiagnosed even told they have mental illness. I may get down sometimes but Munchausen's syndrome that's a joke even with other doctors. It just not write that they can write what ever they feel with no proof which he never had he just wrote he wanted to "role it out" but there was never any correction of that or his other labs. I found myself getting anixous when she told me they would be contacting him.how dumb..
Hi there. Sorry I didn't see your journal until now. You have certainly been through so much and treated unfairly. Thank goodness you were finally diagnosed. I have been on hydrocortisone in the past for adrenal fatigue but not taking it at present. While it gives me extra strength,unfortunately it increases my arrhythmia. I can certainly relate to your mistreatment by ignorant doctors. I've had my share of it too and it hurts. I hope your quality of life continues to improve. Just to beable to get out a little here and there is so precious. Best wishes Diane